To the western side of Penzance you will find some of the most architecturally stunning houses clustered around Regent’s Square and the surrounding streets. Well worth spending half an hour to explore. In the midst of this area are the Morrab Sub-Tropical Gardens and Penlee Park within which is Penlee House Gallery and Museum an elegant gallery set within a Victorian house and park. Changing exhibitions mainly feature famous Newlyn School and Lamorna Group artists.
Wandering through the park on the way back to our holiday home in historic Chapel Street, we stumbled across the delightful Memorial Garden, tucked away by the side of the House. There is also the Orangery Coffee Shop, with its sun-bathed terrace overlooking the park, but unfortunately not open on a Sunday afternoon. This Garden of Remembrance was created in the former kitchen and flower walled enclosure which provided produce and flowers for the house all through the year.
(click on an image to enlarge and scroll through the gallery)
There are several benches on which to rest and take in the beauty of the tiny garden. There is also a small chapel of rest, which was closed on my visit and in front of this an unusual Foxglove Tree was in flower. I have never come across this before. It has fragrant, light lilac-purple flowers in large panicles. The garden is full of sub-tropical planting and is a peaceful, sheltered haven. Don’t miss it if you are ever in Penzance. I know that I’d be very happy to sit there for a few hours with a good book.
